Foreign and health ministers to advocate for Taiwan’s WHA inclusion in Geneva

Foreign and health ministers to advocate for Taiwan’s WHA inclusion in Geneva

2024-05-24

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare held a joint press conference Friday on the World Health Assembly. Taiwan has yet to receive an invitation to the event, which opens next week. As in previous years, the government is planning to send a delegation to Geneva to advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion. Let’s hear from the foreign and health ministers.

Chiu Tai-yuan
Health minister
We will make an effort until the very last moment. We’ll set off tonight with the goal of letting the world see Taiwan’s contributions to global health. We will follow all the rules of the assembly. But we will hold a protest about all the things we should protest.

Lin Chia-lung
Foreign minister
The pressure from the CCP is the only thing that’s keeping Taiwan from participating. The CCP must be afraid that we hear the things that are said at the WHA. Otherwise, why would they prevent reporters from going in? The oppression didn’t just start today. It’s been getting increasingly severe, which shows that they are getting more and more afraid.

The foreign minister condemned China’s oppression, calling on the WHO to accept Taiwan. Though no invite has been extended to Taiwan for eight years in a row now, the government of Taiwan has not given up, calling for participation as an observer.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

WHA行前衛福國防雙部長會邱泰源:該抗議的會抗議

2024-05-24

今年的WHA世界衛生大會27號在瑞士日內瓦展開，只是台灣尚未收到邀請函，外交部和衛福部週五舉辦雙部長記者會，說明今年前往瑞士推動參與WHA的相關計畫。

[[衛福部長邱泰源]]
“我們將與外交部一起努力到最後一刻。我們今天晚上會出發，我們要去讓世界看到台灣對國際醫衛的貢獻。我們就按照大會的規定來做，但是該抗議的，我想我們都會抗議。”

[[外交部長林佳龍]]
“中共的打壓是使得台灣沒有辦法參加的唯一原因。中共很怕WHA大會上面，裡面的聲音被聽到，不然他們為什麼要去阻止記者？事實上這打壓也不是今天才開始，只是越來越大，可見他們越來越怕。”

外交部長林佳龍譴責中國打壓，呼籲WHO本於宗旨抗拒打壓。儘管連續八年沒收到WHA的邀請函，仍不放棄希望，向國際社會爭取台灣能以觀察員的身分參與。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

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The TPP and KMT’s determination to ram these bills though the legislature has compelled Taiwan’s people to take to the streets once again. Lee Ming-che, a Taiwanese human rights activist who was once imprisoned by China, was deeply moved. He pointedly noted that using a legislative majority to force bills through the legislature was no different from a communist country.

Lee Ming-che
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If you call the opinion of a majority democracy, then let me tell you, which country is the most democratic country in the world? It is the PRC, across from us. Over there, there’s no debates, only a majority. This kind of democracy is the democracy of a dictatorship. Today the KMT is using its majority and wants us to accept these kinds of “democratic” values.

The movement called “I’m in contempt of the legislature” saw a series of events from the public all over Taiwan. Students from many southern universities in Kaohsiung held events of their own.

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Lee Yu-cheng
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In addition to university student representatives, a senior high school student also came to support the event.

Yu Li-wei
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We can see the chaos in the legislature this time. Not only did they not seek any consensus, the KMT conveners even directly declared they would not send it to legislators for discussion. The KMT should go back to high school and retake civics classes?

Over in Chiayi, people held up placards with slogans and protested in front of the train station to convey their opposition of the expansion of legislative powers.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Mike Pompeo
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Do you have any advice for President Lai?

Mike Pompeo
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Ann Hu
FTV vice president
Taiwan’s parliament has been chaotic lately, and our parliament is controlled by the opposition. Do you think that will affect the Lai administration?

Mike Pompeo
Former US secretary of state
Yeah, oh, yes. No, no, democracies are rambunctious places. Our legislature has been, I think you said chaotic. Our legislature has been difficult too, even during, when I served in the legislative branch, it certainly was. I served in the legislative branch in America when President Obama was there, so the president from the other party, and it definitely shaped his capacity, it presented real challenges for him. And that’s OK, that’s what democracies do. They choose different people for different positions. I’m confident that this new president has been empowered to execute on his vision, and I’m confident he’ll deliver good outcomes.

Ann Hu
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Can China use this situation in parliament to affect Taiwan’s politics?

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This is your third visit to Taiwan. Can you share your deepest impression about Taiwan?

Mike Pompeo
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Ann Hu
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I do appreciate this opportunity to have a conversation with you. And I wish you have a nice day in Taiwan.

Mike Pompeo
Former US secretary of state
Thank you. Bless you.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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For this rickshaw driver, April’s record heat in Myanmar was unbearable.

Sometimes, I have to go under the shade and rest for 10 to 15 minutes after I carry the passengers under the sun.

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Stan Kwiatkowski
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It’s Formosa TV.

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From Taiwan?

Stan Kwiatkowski
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Yes, the company is from Taiwan. I am from Poland and they are hiring me to report.

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Stan Kwiatkowski
YouTuber
Why do you leave Taiwanese people behind? Why do you leave people from that country behind? That means they don’t have access to the most fresh information, right?

Every year, Taiwanese officials, NGOs or media, do their best to join the WHA but are ultimately turned away. Kwiatkowski, was born and raised in Poland, and studied Chinese at National Chengchi University in 2009. After marrying his Taiwanese wife, he moved back to Poland for family reasons. But even 8,715 kilometers away, he’s continued to create video content to make Taiwan’s voice be heard.

Stan Kwiatkowski
YouTuber
They just place some conditions on you that you can’t possibly meet and then suppress you in that way. In this way, the rights of Taiwan’s 23 million people are being suppressed like this by an organization that not a single person has elected and has nothing to do with public opinion. I think these kinds of situations are really bad.

“Health for All” is the goal of the WHO. However, given its unfavorable treatment of Taiwan, this promise for many Taiwanese seems hollow.

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